After a tumultuous journey filled with uncertainty, Rece Verhoff is once again considered eligible to take the field for the UNC football program.
In this ever-changing world of chaos, Verhoff, along with 97 other student-athletes (inlcuidn three UNC field hockey players), have been granted a preliminary injunction by a Monroe County circuit court judge in Indiana for a lawsuit that was filed against the NCAA.
What does this ruling mean? Well, there's two key components to keep in mind.
The NCAA is still in shambles
The pendulum has swung once again in this never-ending battle between the fifth-year student athletes and the NCAA. Now, nearly 100 student-athletes are granted the chance to compete for their respective teams and universities, a ruling that we quite frankly can't guarantee won't change again.
It just goes to show that there is no resolution in sight, as this dilemma will continue who an indefinite amount of time.
This news is really good for UNC
Agree with the extra eligibility or not, this is a ruling that heavily favors North Carolina.
On the gridiron, Bill Belichick and his team could definitely use Verhoff's experienced leg. Let's remember: Verhoff led the team a season ago with the most points scored, contributing 77 points on special teams.
Unfortunately, UNC could've used him this past weekend against Clemson. His presence could've changed the entire landscape of the game.
Nothing against Aeron Burrell, who made two of his three field goal attempts, but Verhoff is UNC's best option at placekicker. Burrell has done an outstanding job as the team's punter, pinning all four of his punts inside the 20-yard line against Clemson, but he's still a work in progress as a kicker, with limited range and accuracy.
Verhoff, on the other hand, has a proven track record and can knock down kicks from farther distances, something Burrell hasn't done yet. North Carolina's special teams unit would be elite with Verhoff handling the kicking duties. At the same time, Burrell would focus solely on punting, giving UNC a duo that could give it a distinct advantage in an important aspect of the game.
If we've learned anything from this saga, it's that you shouldn't get too excited until the player actually steps foot on the field. With so many different rulings, injunctions, and other crazy legal terms associated with this chaos, the situation can change in the blink of an eye. What's even more nerve-wracking for UNC fans is that the Tar Heels have a bye week this weekend, giving even more time for this to be overruled before they take the field again.
Tar Heel fans should be guardedly optimistic about this ruling. It's possible that UNC got its wish to bring back it's special teams ace to help this year's team.
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